Iranian Resistance Welcomes EU Decision Not To Return Ambassadors To Tehran, Iran Zamin News Agency, June 3

The National Council of Resistance of Iran issued a statement from Paris, welcoming the European Union's announcement that it had decided not to return EU ambassadors to Iran.

Speaking on behalf of the EU foreign ministers yesterday, Mr. Hans van Mierlo, the Dutch Foreign Minister, reiterated that conditions remained unsuitable for such a move.

The NCR said in its statement that a correct policy vis-a-vis the Iranian regime would include severing all diplomatic and trade ties, referring Iranian state terrorism to the UN Security Council, reopening the files on assassinations of Iranian dissidents in Europe, and prosecuting the clerical regime's leaders before an international tribunal.

Amnesty Accuses Iran of Violating Clerics' Rights, Reuters, June 3

LONDON - Amnesty International Tuesday accused Iran of human rights violations against prominent dissident Shiite Muslim clerics and their followers.

In a 23-page report, the London-based human rights organization said at least three senior religious figures were reportedly held under house arrest and their followers had been detained and reportedly tortured.

The violations have occurred when the religious leaders opposed government policies, such as the absolute authority of Iran's supreme spiritual leader, or criticized human rights violations, it said…

Some of those held were tried before a special court for the clergy set up to investigate and try crimes such as "counter-revolution, corruption, immorality, unlawful acts, anything which might damage the prestige of the clergy and acts committed by 'pseudo-clergy,"' Amnesty said.

"The extraordinary nature of this court and its procedures are such that it violates international human rights standards to which Iran is a state party ...," the organization added.

Iran Approves $7.5 Bln Issue of State Certificates, Reuter, June 3

TEHRAN - Iran has approved the issue by various government bodies of $7.5 billion worth of state-guaranteed certificates, a newspaper said on Tuesday.

The daily Salam said the cabinet drew up the guidelines for the sale of 22.5 trillion rials ($7.5 billion) of "participation certificates," a substitute for interest-bearing bonds which are prohibited under Iran's strict Islamic laws banning usury…

China Defends Sales of Conventional Arms to Iran, Reuters, June 3

BEIJING (Reuter) - China Tuesday defended what it called transfers of small amounts of conventional weapons to Iran, describing them as appropriate and legal…

Last November, the Washington Times quoted the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency as saying China recently sold Iran missile technology, advanced radar components and nearly 400 tonnes of chemicals used to produce nerve agents.

The Washington Post's news service reported this week that the U.S. State Department had officially informed Congress that the Chinese government had sold cruise missiles to Iran, enhancing that country's ability to disrupt Gulf shipping and challenge U.S. forces in the region.

Rival Cleric Exposes Pressure Tactics To Re-Elect Nateq Nourri As Parliament Speaker, Israel Radio, June 2

In the wake of Nateq Nourri's re-election as Speaker of Parliament, reports are surfacing that his re-instatement was engineered by the mullahs' "spiritual leader," Khamenei.

Abdollah Nouri, who had counted on being a shoo-in for the post with the support of a rival faction, leaked the report of Khamenei's demand that Nateq Nourri be re-elected.

Nourri said: "I was nominated as the candidate for the post by the Hezbollah Assembly… as well as the Agents of Reconstruction group, but Khamenei sent word to Parliament that he wanted Nateq Nourri to remain Speaker." Abdollah Nourri said that in a personal meeting with Khamenei, the mullahs' spiritual leader had asked him to forgo rivalry, and he had complied.

According to Nourri, Khamenei declared that "it would be better if Nateq Nourri were to be the Speaker, so as a result that is exactly what happened."

Nourri, who is a supporter of Khamenei, said he anticipated that the newly elected president would "face many difficulties with the parliament in light of yesterday's election."

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